By Juliana Di Leonardo As heavy rain pounded the pavement on Long Island Saturday night, I came upon the body of what appeared to be a pregnant, young mother in the middle of the road. Battered and bloody, she was the victim of a hit-and-run. I swerved but almost didn't stop. Like whoever hit her, I panicked, but my conscience didn't allow me to...
By Amrutvijaydas Swami BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha In previous discussions, we delved into how a mandir serves multiple purposes: it's a catalyst for mental stability, promotes mutual respect, safeguards culture and tradition, and reinforces our true identity. Now, we explore another profound role of mandirs - leading us to ultimate peace and divine unity. A Mandir Gives Ultimate Peace Even after centuries of endeavor in the...
By Amrutvijaydas Swami BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Mandirs, in their spiritual grandeur, provide sanctuaries of serenity and wisdom, fostering our spiritual self-awareness while guiding us toward the zenith of inner peace. Acting as insightful compasses, they shepherd us from temporal existence to a blissful eternity of unity with the Divine. As we have discussed previously, mandirs help to anchor the mind, encourage righteous living,...
By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj All too often people are quick to pass judgment on others without knowing their full story. They may be quick to criticize someone’s actions, believing that their perspective is correct and that they understand all the circumstances. In turn, how many of us are willing to withhold judgment and...
By John Di Leonardo In the latest chapter of Long Island's sloth saga, the Suffolk County Supreme Court has ruled SlothEncounters.com, LTD and its landlord 777 Chris's Way, LLC guilty of civil contempt of court, writing "It is the opinion of this Court that the location continues to be operated as a petting zoo under the...
By Amrutvijaydas Swami BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha In previous articles, we have explored how a mandir stabilizes the mind, inspires noble living, and fosters mutual respect. Now, let us delve into another significant aspect of the mandir: its role in preserving and protecting culture and tradition. In our increasingly secular and materialistic world, it's easy for respect and reverence towards one's own culture and traditions to be overshadowed. Mandirs,...
By John Di Leonardo This week, the United States celebrated July 4th, also known as Independence Day. Despite this day being a celebration of freedom from Great Britain, most Americans celebrate by shooting off fireworks and chowing down on burgers and hot dogs, frightening wildlife and animal companions and consuming animals who never knew the freedom...
By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj As people around the world focus on the economy and in budgeting their finances to make ends meet, there is another budget that each of us can consider. Besides what we amass in this physical world, we also are given a certain number of breaths by God to use...
In a world tormented by an intensifying concern of climate change, it is vital to consider ethics and moral implications that could lead to catastrophic consequences severely harming the well-being of animals, as we plunge into the urgent need to make adaptations. In Ireland, startling headlines recently revealed a shocking announcement that the Irish government...
